Chandigarh: The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Monday passed six major bills aimed at accelerating economic growth, strengthening governance, and creating a more business-friendly environment in the state.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the passage of these bills marked a historic step toward transforming Punjab’s industrial and economic landscape. Among them, the Right to Business Act introduces a Deemed Approval Facility under which industrial projects will be automatically cleared if no response is received within 45 days. Cheema described this provision as a game-changer for industrial investment in Punjab.
Other bills passed include the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, which reforms the state’s tax system, and the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to enhance transparency in the real estate sector. The Punjab Government Services (Amendment) Bill 2012 focuses on improving service delivery, while the Punjab Town Improvement (Amendment) Bill 2020 aims to accelerate urban development projects. The Farmers Seed Policy Bill was also approved to ensure farmers receive access to quality seeds.
While most bills were passed with strong support, the Congress party opposed the Right to Business Act. Responding to this, Cheema said the opposition was resisting reforms designed to create a more conducive industrial environment in the state.
